just bought on eBay and I saw suddenly a “UK VAT added to price” for the first time is this correct

[laugb2001]

Hi,

I just bought an item on eBay and I saw added to the final price before payment a "UK VAT added to price" to a value of 20%. I have never seen that before in more than 18 years on eBay. The seller is in UK and I am also in UK. Is this correct and have I really to pay it?

thanks.

Lau

[dodgeram-durango]

Very well done!   But the whole point is to able to cancel a sale before accepting full price at checkout & not asking seller to cancel the transaction. Ebay need to "Give UK based sellers" a genuine set of figures to compete against making it a fairer deal - price wise!

[*knight-rider*]

`I bought a second-hand camera lens from a seller in Japan and was charged VAT on the item and the postage, I have bought from Japan before without VAT being added`

I buy lots of vinyl records from japan with the obi`s and have never been charged v.a.t.

i was looking at a dvd from the U.S a couple of nights ago of all billie eilish` music videos, less than £10 including the postage, but import duty was nearly $5, ridiculous!

[6918helen]

I too having been buying from abroad for years. just purchased a ring from turkey and paid and then found out VAT had been added. Contacted seller and he knew nothing about it. he said he was a very small business who had just started out and he certainly did not make £85,000 or whatever figure it is when VAT is paid by customer. He apologised but could not do anything about it as he did not receive the VAT money. I also buy a lot from china and have never had to pay VAT , I will of course be double checking before I buy and will not be buying anything I have to pay VAT.  would also like to point out I buy from SHEIN uk but based all over the world and items are sent from USA?china etc.,],  and still do not pay VAT.  I will be now cutting down what I buy off ebay.

[unclestein]

If they are listed as a UK seller and the Item location is somewhere in the UK, and especially if they have a picture of a Union Jack and "UK seller" in the picture I will give them negative feedback if it turns out they are based in China or wherever, and I'll say "Seller is not in the UK, I was charged VAT", and we all know how VAT is sneaked on at the end without due notice.

I often get creepy emails from them begging to remove the negative comments, but they should be more honest, and Ebay need to sort their s**t out and comply with consumer law.

[unclestein]

Ebay think they are lawless being based in Luxemberg or wherever the heck their tax haven is.

[unclestein]

Give the seller negative feedback saying you were charged VAT after the sale price was agreed.

They hate it, and will probably beg you to change it, but if enough people did this then they might realise that it's unnacceptable to be charged AFTER the total price is displayed.

It doesn't matter if a charge derived from the HMRC, or whatever the loyal Ebay "experts" keep banging on about.

If you are unfortunate enough to have a tax compliance check they will take no prisoners. There is a way to do accounting in the UK and Ebay and their clan of so called "Experts" don't have a clue.

[nigel_paul_wright7557]

" I mainly now buy through "Amazon" at least I know up-front what the cost is - AND there returns system is a FAR superior system than eBay ! "

I sent a camera back to Amazon and they took 2 weeks to refund me ! Thats as a buyer.

As a seller they refuse to add "buy" button to my items so people struggle to buy from me.

Amazon is the worst vendor ever !

[unclestein]

How can I put this...instead of spouting the import VAT regulations, please comprehend the issue most people are complaining about:

Ebay have the capability of charging us VAT, whether it's passed on automatically by HMRC or because of Brexit or whatever, who cares, ultimately it's added to the total, and it appears in the sum of the total costs AFTER the checkout right at the end, yes?

Right, so you agree that the Ebay script/code is capable of displaying the total costs WITH the VAT, yes?

Right, so it shouldn't be that hard for "them" to display this BEFORE the checkout process then shoud it?

Exactly!

The Ebay representitive I spoke to in person insisted that it's all displayed before the sale, ie compliant with UK consumer law, so it proves they have an inkling what should be right.

The issue is that VAT is not displayed beforehand, and it's an error or bug that needs fixing, this is what most people are unhappy with.

Jeez...

[unclestein]

How can I put this politely... please comprehend the issue these people are complaining about. It's not about VAT import policy, we totally get that.

Ebay have the capability of charging us VAT, whether it's passed on automatically by HMRC or because of Brexit or whatever, who cares. Ebay ultimately processes the VAT element of the transaction, which they add to the total, and it appears in the sum of the total costs AFTER the checkout right at the end, yes?

Right, so you agree that the Ebay script/code is capable of displaying the total costs WITH that VAT, yes?

Right, so it shouldn't be that hard for "them" to display this BEFORE the checkout process then should it?

Exactly!

The Ebay representitive I spoke to in person insisted that VAT IS all displayed before the sale and compliant with UK consumer law, so st least they have an inkling of what should be right.

The issue is that VAT is not being displayed beforehand, and it's an error or bug that needs fixing.

In fact some people find it so annoying it makes them angry that Ebay is doing nothing to fix it, especially when sellers have a Union Jack and "UK seller" in the picture (but that is another issue that will never be fixed).

Every other business on the planet manages to display all the charges (VAT, postage, fees etc) upfront before the sale, even Amazon (and they are THE masters of deception!).

This is what most people are unhappy with, please get with the narrative.

Jeez...

[papso22]

IT'S NOT SALES VAT!

IT'S NOT SOMETHING EBAY CAN 'FIX'.

[unclestein]

Jeez..

This is concerning a charge labelled "VAT" which appears on the total after the sale.

Whether it's their legal obligation, EU rules, import tax, HMRC, some policy or other, Ebay is still involved in the processing of that charge labelled "VAT" in order to display it and add it to the total which they charge to your card or bank account.

Since they have processed the charge they should display it before the sale, giving the buyer an informed choice (like most companies do when you get an invoice) but Ebay don't.

The Ebay customer service person said to me it should be displayed before the sale.

(I have the screenshots but I've lost the will to argue about this.)

Therefore it's a problem that needs fixing, maybe their coders don't wanna upset the rest of the program, or maybe they just don't give a damn as long as the money keeps pouring in, and since they have no official means of contact it is left for the community forum.

Is there a simpler way to explain it?

[unclestein]

Jeez..

This is concerning a charge labelled "VAT" which appears on the total after the sale? Yes?

Whether it's their legal obligation, EU rules, import tax, HMRC, some policy or other, Ebay is still involved in the processing of that charge labelled "VAT" in order to display it and add it to the total which they charge to your card or bank account.

Since they have processed the charge they should display it before the sale, giving the buyer an informed choice (like most companies do when you get an invoice) but Ebay don't. It's basic invoicing.

The Ebay customer service person said to me it should be displayed before the sale, so there, I have the screenshots but I've lost the will to argue about this.

So when people say "It's not Ebay's problem", or "It's not an Ebay charge" or "It's not something they can fix" (sometimes in capital letters, sometimes quoting some policy or other), It's all bulls**t.

It's a problem that needs fixing, the coders don't wanna upset the rest of the program, and they don't give a damn as long as the money keeps pouring in.

Is there an accountant in the house?

[fargvs]

1.  Item Location... is seen under Postages in listings ... 

2. Seller (Based in) Location   ... is shown in their Feedback profile ... 

3. Country of  Seller Registration  ... can be seen by clicking their  'Items for sale /View listings' links to the Seller information in left column. >> (at 2/3 Based in/Registered site Locations can often be completely different.)

Even with items located  in and sent from within the UK,  if either the Seller/Buyer is Based or Registered outside the UK ?... it will trigger an additional Import VAT fee as per variable rates applicable in the receiving destination Country address and so can only be added at checkout >

 https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/buying/paying-items/paying-tax-ebay-purchases?

[unclestein]

<Even with items located  in and sent from within the UK,  if either the Seller/Buyer is Based or Registered outside the UK ?... it will trigger an additional Import VAT fee as per variable rates applicable in the receiving destination Country address and so can only be added at checkout >

Good lord, you're so close....

But "added at checkout" means exactly that: Added to a sum (or list) of all the charges, together with a total.

Then and only then should the customer be allowed to proceed with the transaction.

[myriad*seller]

Again...

The VAT cannot be calculated until checkout, until the destination of the parcel is known

Eg item located in UK, sold by a seler who lives in the UK: if you buy it and have it sent to yourself in the UK there is no import VAT

HOWEVER, if you choose to send it to your aunt in France when you go through checkout, then import VAT is due - so this can only be added at checkout!

So the import VAT cannot be calculated until you go through checkout

The same applies on Amazon and ALL other sites. If import VAT is due this will be added at checkout. If it is isn't the website is breaking the law and will be prosecuted by HMRC!

[papso22]

I think what unclestein is after, is a stage at checkout after you enter the delivery address, that says 'this is the total price including import taxes, are you sure you want to proceed?"

Then you either say no, and the potential purchase is cancelled,  or yes, and proceed to pay.

[unclestein]

You nailed it Papso, at least someone is on the ball.

Maybe they mis-interpret the word "checkout"? I interpret it as: 

"An opportunity for a customer  to "take stock" of the total value of items in his/her shopping basket/virtual basket, together with a sum of the charges, discounts, VAT etc prior to making a commitment to pay.  For example at a supermarket checkout, or such".

I'm actually getting bored of this. You people are no fun anymore.

[purveyor_of_tat]

You can place items into the basket and remove them at will.

[andse-4680]

Like listing on other uk sites, where VAT is included it would be helpful for this to be plainly obvious ie price exclusive/inclusive of VAT.  Perhaps Ebay should update it's marketplace to include this.  Hopefully then there would be no ambiguity in the listed price of the item and what one should expect to pay on final checkout.  After all it will always show postage frees if applicable.

[ile136yz]

Good idea for eBay to show 'VAT WILL BE ADDED' notice at the top of the advert, so nothing is hidden or a surprise to the Buyer when paying/or paid.

Does VAT get added to items purchased on auction as well or just BIN? I would think yes but I'm unsure.